Track-laying apparatus



Oct. 1, 1940. J. H. COOPER ET AL TRACK-LAYING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 13, 1940 4 She`ets-Sheet l lff l INVENTORS er Jamsl Jam/1112 maar,

ATToRNEx/g.

um Q HHS..

Oct. l. 1940 J. H. COOPER ET AL 2,216,434 TRAcx-LAYING APPARATUS 4 sheets-sheet' 2 Filed Jan. 13, 1940 l l', J0MZZ'J- Oct. l, 1940.

J. H. COOPER ET AL 2,216,434

TRACK-LAYING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 13, l94 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 f?? FIG. 4; /f/.f/.--

A TTORNE YS.

' 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 J. H. COOPER El' AL TRACK-LAYING APPARATUS Filed Jan.`15, 1940 Oct. l, 1940.

Patented Oct. 1, 1940 g' UNITED? TRACK-Llame APP li'rris John H. Cooper, ames E. Browenand Loren a' Miller, Fort Wayne, Ind.

Application January 13, 1940, Serial No. 313,682

sciaims. (ci. 254943)]1 This invention relates to track laying, and especially to the gauging and lining of track-rails," and to assuring accuracy of the track when 1inally spiked. The' 'invention not only assures bet- -5 ter track work, but allows of doing the work more rapidly and at lower cost. In rail-laying, it allows of gauging and lining up a substantial length of track at one operation, and to finished gauge; so that a single gauging suffices, and it is unnecessary to regauge forr'efinement. Various other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description of species and forms of embodiment, and from the drawings. All the features and combinations shown or described are of our invention, so'far as novel.

" In the drawings, Fig.y 1 is a plan view of Va track gauging andlining machineorapparatus conveniently embodying our invention, mounted on the rails of a track as in service; Fig. 2 isa side View on a somewhat larger scale, omitting a portion of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an end View of a unit or machine taken as indicated by the-line and arrows III--III in Fig.

1; Fig. 4 is a. fragmentary end view with parts in section, taken as indicated by the lineandarrows 12V-IV in Fig.- 1; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional View taken substantially as indicated by the line and arrows V-V in Fig. 1; and Fig. 6 is a.

fragmentary perspective view of parts of the machine adjacent one of the track rails, with certain parts broken away.

Fig. 7 is a plan viewV similar to Fig. 1, illustrating a modified machine; Fig. 8 is a side viewof this modified machine, similar to Fig. 2; and Fig. 9 is an end View similar to Fig. 3, with certain parts broken away. I

In Fig. 1 there are illustrated a plurality of similar machine units A, B, each adapted to line 4 0 up a certain length or section of track, such as about 10 feet. Fig. 1 shows one such unit A completely, and part of an adjacent unit B, coupled or connected to the unit A for combined operation of the two units. In practice, the whole machine is preferably operated to bring to positions of correct gauge and alignment the rails T, T in a track length or section on which the machine is, and to hold these rail lengths fixed in such positions until they have been securely spiked down; after which the machine is released from the track rails T,-T and moved along to anv adjacent section of the track, where the operation is repeated; and so Qn indenitely.

- As here shown, the unit A comprises a rigid 55. framework I0: adapted rfor movement along the track Tand provided for this l.purpose with vrailI engaging supports, such as wheelsv I2. In .the present instance, the/unity A itself comprises a plurality of sub-units a operating in' conjunction with one another, and all structurally in- 5# eluded in the frameworkA Ill.v As best Vshown Vin Figs. 1 and3,.the structuralrbasisfofeachz subunit avis -a hollow' ."(tubular') beam-|3 extending acrossthe trackand serving as an axleforthe rollersof the vwheels |2, which aremounted' on 10 its ends.V The-.beams I3 rof the several 'sub-units' a are permanently interconnected byprossed diagonal braces lfwelded orfotherwise' suitably united where theycross, fand similarly attached l to said beams 'I3 at 'their ends. vThusA the frame- 15 work I is made very stiff and rigid, especiallyV against stresses -in` substantially "aghorizontal plane.`

As showninFig. 1, 'the machine units Aand B are interconnected by crossed braces I5 similar 20,

to the braces I4 of the unit A, but disconnectably attached to the adjacent .beams AI3- of said units A, V13,' as by having 4the ends-of the `braces I5. forked to engage over apertured .lugs Iton saidbeams I3'and pierced with holes forcouplings I1 gg.

(in the-nature of bolts or pins) extending through said lugsand the ends of said braces.A For greater strength 'and rigidity, thebraces I5 .may themselves bey braced together-,by short-struts I8 hav- .ing theirends welded'to saidbraoes I5. Thus the 30g.A

frameworks I0 of the two units A, B are practicallyunited intorone rigidframe, v

As shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, and as already mentioned, each of the sub-units c includes one of the transverse beams I3 having on its ends 35i.,

the wheels I2 that rest on the track-rails T, T.

At each endof each beam I? isA arail-gripping arrangement G comprising relatively movable coacting clamps'20'and'2l for engaging inside and outside a railT. By moving these grippers G at 40. opposite ends of the beam I3 apart or toward one another, the track'rails T, T are spread apart or crowded together. I In order that the machine may be free for movement along the track when the grip of these grippers G is relaxed, it is desir- 45, able to operate the-grippers G by both moving the ,insiderclamps 42li outward and inward 'and moving the outside clamps 2l inward and outfward, so as to releasey both setsl of clamps con? currently fromboth rails T, Tafter the latter'arel '504 spiked down'.- Ashere shown, the inside clamps ZIJ and the outside clamps ZI are more or less independently movable Vrelative to the b eam I3 for thispurpose... r

For movingy the insideI clamps. `ZIJ toward and u.

from the track-rails T, T, there are transverse spreader-rods 22 slidably mounted below the beam I3 in brackets 23 attached to said beam, vwith T- heads 24 at their outer ends that engage against stout (inside) clamp plates 25, which extend parallel with th' rails T, T, and may be provided with hardened facings 26 for making contact with the rails. In the present instance, the inside clamp plates 25 are not permanently attached to the spreader heads 24, but are rockably suspended from pivots 21 in brackets 28 attached to the ends of the beam I3. As also shown in Fig. 3, the outside clamps 2| consist of stout plateslying in a vertical plane perpendicular to the rails T, T, and are rockably mounted on the beam I3 lon fulcrum pivots 29 above the rails T, T, between upward projecting ears 30, 30 on the brackets 28. These outside clamps 2| may have inward-projecting noses 3| for engaging the webs of the rails about at mid-height between the bases of thefrails and their heads. In coaction with the engagement of the clamps 2| against the rail heads, these noses 3| assure against any tippingy of the rails when moved inward by the clamps2l, 2|. y

For actuating the spreader rodsv22 to spread the'rails T, T, there are shown in Figs. 3 and 5 cams 33 of approximately elliptic outline mounted on Va. shaft 34 extending lengthwise along the center of the framework I0, and itself mounted in bearing brackets 35 depending from the beams I3. The cams 33 for the several spreaders 2|) may be operated in unison bysuitable means acting tot on the shaft 34. Preferably, the shaft 34 is multiply actuated at suitable distributed points, as by fluid motors 36 mounted on the beams I3 at opposite ends of the framework I0. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the cylinder of each motor 36 has its closed rear end pivoted at 31 to Va bracket 38 on one side of the beam I3, andits piston rod is pivotally connected by a crank pin 39 to a crank arm 40 Xed to the corresponding end of the shaft 34. 'For reversely rotating the cam shaft 34 when motive fluid is shut off and vented from the motors 36, there is shown in Fig. 1 a helical tension spring 4I connected between `a crank arm 40a on said shaft 34 and a lug 42 on the middle beam I3. Stop means may be provided for limiting-the rail-spreading and the reverse rotation of the shaft 34'and its cams 33, such as stop screws 43 adjustable in lugs 43a on the brackets 35, Fig. 3.

For actuating the outer clamps 2|, there are shown individual motors 44 whose cylinders are pivoted at 45 to brackets 46 on the several beams I3, and whose piston rods are pivoted at 41 to the upper endsV of the clamp plates 2|, substantially above their fulcrum pivots 29. Means are preferably provided for retracting the outside clamps 2| out of contact with the rails T, T when pressure in the cylinders of motors 44 is released, such as a helical tension spring 48 connected betweenreach clamp 2| and a bracket 49 on the beam I3. Asshown in Figs. 1 and 3, each of the motors 36 is connected byflexible piping 5| toa pipe line 52 extending throughout the length of the several units A, B. The motors 44 at oppositesides of the units' A, B are connected by flexible piping 53 to pipe lines 54, 54 extending throughout the length of the several units A, B. Pressure uid from any suitable source (such as compressed air) may be supplied to the pipe lines 52 and 54 under the control of suitable valve means, not shown; and thus all the inside and outsideclamps 26 and 2| atboth sides of the units A, B may beconcurrently operated to bring the track rails T, T to gauge, and to line or align them properly relative to one another throughout the length of the several units A, B. If desired, of course, the two sets of inside clamps 20 at opposite sides of the unitsl A, B may be operated concurrently by suitably controlling the pressure supplied through the pipe line 52, and the two sets of outside clamps 2| at opposite sides of the units A, B may each be operated concurrently by controlling the pressure supplied through the two pipe lines 54, 54 independently of that in the pipe line 52, and, if desired, independently of each other.

To facilitate spiking of the track rails while securely held to gauge and alignment by the grippers G of the several units A, B, platforms for workmen (operating pneumatic spike-drivers) are shown in Fig. 1, at opposite' sides of each track rail T, T. The platforms 60 inside the rails are shown mounted on transverse angle bars 63 attached to the braces I4 ;v while the platform 65 outside the track rails are mounted on angle bars 66 which are pivoted tothe angley bars 63 at 61, so that they can be swung in out of the way (as shown in Figs. 3 and 4) when the whole apparatus is to be shifted along thetrack. Rollers 68 in brackets 69 on said bars 66 are provided for resting on the rails T, T when the platforms are in use.

The apparatus illustrated in Figs'. 7, 8, and 9 resembles that in Figs. 1-6 in its main essentials, and many corresponding parts and features. are marked with the same reference characters (with an added letter where such distinction appears desirable) as a means of dispensing with repetitive description. In this instance, the cams 33 on the longitudinal shaft 34a are not operated by uid motors, but mechanically, by hand levers or cranks 10 fixed to opposite ends of said shaft 34a. Likewise, provision is made for operating the outer clamps 2| mechanically rather than by uid motors, by means of hand levers 15 attached to the ends of a longitudinal shaft 16 mounted in bearing brackets 11 above the beams I3, and connected to the clamps 2| by sprocket wheels 18 on said shaft 16 and coacting sprocket chains 80 extending down through openings 8| into the interior of the beam I3 and around anti-friction rollers 82 mounted therein, and thence through the beam to connections 83 to the clamps 2|, 2 I. As here shown, each connection 83 includes an adjusting screw 84 with a lock-nut for adjusting the relation between the lever 15 and the clamp 2|. To hold the sprocket chain 80 taut, there is shown an upstanding bracket arm 81 on the clamp 2|, with a hook 88 at its upper end on which any desired link of the chain may be hooked.

Provision may be-Inade for locking the cams 33 and the shaft 34 in position to allow contraction of the spreaders 20,' 20, as shown in Fig. 9, by means of locking plates pivoted to brackets 9| on the beams I3 about transverse pivots 92, and having their ends forked at 93 to engage about the levers 10 when said plates are swung outward toward said levers 10, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. The brackets 9| are shown in Fig. '7, but the locking plates 96 are omitted, to avoid confusion. Provision may be made for holding down the levers 15 to hold the outside clamp 2 I, 2| contracted, as by means of semi-circular lock#- ing plates 95 pivoted about horizontal transverse axes 96 on upright rods 91 attached to the brackets 28, Figs. '7, 8, 9,

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. Track-gauging and lining apparatus com- Cil prising a rigid framework mounted for movement along the track; opposed series of gauging and lining grippers for both track-rails on said framework, the grippers of each series comprising relatively movable coacting clamps for engaging outside and inside the rails; and means for operating the several rail-grippers `of both series concurrently, to bring the rails to gauge and line them relative to one another.

2. Track-gauging and lining apparatus comprising a rigid framework mounted for movement along the track; opposed series of gauging and lining grippers for both track-rails on said framework, the grippers of each series comprising a set of movable clamps for engaging outside the rails and a set of movable clamps for engaging inside the rails; means for concurrently bringing corresponding sets of clamps of the two series to gauge; and means for concurrently forcing the other sets of clamps of the two series against the rails and the first-mentioned clamps, thus bringing the rails to gauge and lining them relative to one another.

3. Track-gauging and lining apparatus comprising a rigid framework mounted for movement along the track, and including a series of rigid beams extending across the track; rail-spreading and gauging means on said beams for engaging between the rails expansible to spread them to gauge, and co-ntractible to release them, with means for expanding said rail-spreading and gauging means on the several beams concurrently; and rail clamps on said beams for engaging outside the rails contractible to force the rails inward to the gauge determined by said spreading and gauging means, and separable to release the rails, with means for contracting said rail clamps on the several beams concurrently, thus bringing the rails to gauge and also lining them relative to one another.

4. Track-gauging and lining apparatus comprising a rigid framework mounted for movement along the track, rail gauging spreaders on said framework, between the rails, comprising bars extending and movable transversely of the track, toward and from the rails, rail clamps mounted on said framework for engaging outside the rails, movable inward and outward transversely of the track, means for expanding said rail spreaders concurrently, comprising a shaft extending lengthwise of the framework, and cams thereon for engaging the inner ends of said spreader bars, and means extending lengthwise along said framework for concurrently moving the rail clamps at each side of the track inward toward the rail spreaders.

5. In track-engaging mechanism, the combination of a rigid beam extending transversely across the track, and provided with track-railengaging supports at its ends, rail spreaders mounted on said beam between the rails, comprising transverse bars below said beam movable lengthwise toward and from the rails, rail clamps pivotally mounted on the ends of said beam above the rails, for engaging outside the latter, a rotatable cam for actuating said spreader bars mounted below said beam between the inner ends of said bars, and means mounted on said beam for forcing said clamps inward against the rails and said spreaders.

' 6. In track-gauging mechanism, the combination of a rigid beam extending across the track, track wheels on the ends of said beam, brackets on said beam inside said wheels, track-rail spreaders below said beam supported by said brackets, rail clamps for engaging outside the rails pivoted on said brackets above the rails, means on said beam for forcing said spreaders outward against the inner sides of the rails, and means mounted on said beam for forcing said clamps inward against the rails and said spreaders.

JOHN I-I. COOPER. JAMES E. BROWER. LOREN E. MILLER. 

